Section 52
"You're up early." Jethro walked into the kitchen. "Figured you would sleep in. You were pretty restless last night."
"Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb your sleep." Tony said regretfully.
"Don't apologize." Jethro said and Tony braced himself for a head slap, instead Jethro dropped a kiss on the top of his head before sitting down next to him. "That wasn't a complaint; I was concerned."
"I made coffee." Tony went to rise but Jethro took his hand stilling him.
"What's wrong?" Jethro asked.
"Where's Zuma?" Tony countered.
"He's in dad's bed. They decided to sleep in. Now, will you tell me what's wrong? I thought last night went well. Your potatoes were almost a bigger hit than my steak."
"Just almost." Tony smiled reluctantly. "Last night was wonderful."
"Then what?"
"I was thinking about my mother and father. You and I know the evil in the world. What if Senior stole me? I mean, maybe he bought me on the black market. Maybe I was kidnapped."
"It could also be that your parents were killed on that flight." Jethro countered.
"And no one wanted me?" Tony said again.
Jethro had that irresistible urge to spend time with Senior again. "You don't know if there was anyone who could have taken you in. That what you were thinking about last night?"
"I think I need to know." Tony said quietly. "I know that this should be enough, but after our family left last night I just kept wondering."
"We're going to get to the bottom of this, Tony." Jethro vowed. "If I know McGee, he's already working on that passenger list."
"I know." Tony bent his head and chewed on his bottom lip.
"Hey," Jethro reached out and took Tony's chin, forcing him to meet his eyes. "Talk to me. Tell me what you need."
"I…" Tony looked into Jethro's eyes taking in his earnest expression. "I can't wait, Jethro. I need to talk to that attorney. I need to go there." Tony tried to drop his head as he rushed on. "I need to go to Palermo. I know that I've missed a lot of work already and with Jackson here…."
Jethro placed his fingertips. "Shhh… I know. That's why I told McGee to book us two tickets to Italy later this week."
"You did?" Tony was shocked. "When?"
"While he using his phone to record you and Zuma saying good-bye to Victoria. I think he said something about posting."
Tony paused for a moment. He and Zuma had pressed their noses to the window to blow kisses. Maybe the Elf Lord would make a trade. He mentally gave himself a Gibbs slap. There were more important issues to deal with right now; like two tickets.
"Two?"
"You don't think I'm letting you go alone, do you? I also asked dad if he would watch Zuma and the house while we're gone."
"We… you and I … are going to Italy?"
"Yep. Thought maybe we'd go to the villa in Palermo. We can talk to that Rossi in person." Jethro paused a little uncertainly. "That is, if you want me along."
"Yes! I mean." Tony could feel his cheeks warm. "I want you with me."
"Good." Jethro smiled. "I thought we could call the architect tomorrow and see how long it will be until we can get an appointment. McGee's going to double check and make sure there is no problem with our passports. Hopefully, by Wednesday we can be off to Italy."
From upstairs they heard the sound of the guest room door creaking open. A few minutes later they could hear the water pipes rumble. "I will not miss that." Jethro sighed.
At a sharp yip, Jackson could be heard muttering. "Get back here you little varmint."
Tony sprang up heading for the steps, while Jethro walked stiffly across the kitchen to start a pot of coffee laughing softly. As he listened, Jethro could hear Tony running up the steps talking as he went. "No, Zuma. You can't go down stairs yet. Stay. You're being a bad pup, aren't you? Come here. Oh, thanks, Jackson. I'll take him down with me."
Jethro had just finished setting out mugs when Tony reentered the kitchen. Thankfully, he had come down much slower than he went up. When he turned, he couldn't help but laugh. Tony's tee shirt was now wet thank to the even wetter pup. "Do I even want to know?"
"Jackson decided to take a shower. He thought Zuma was still in bed. When he turned on the shower, Zuma decided to join him." Tony said sitting down with the pup on his lap. He was trying to dry the wiggling pup who wanted no part of the towel Jackson had provided.
"Let me guess. He decided he didn't want a shower?"
"Jackson said he took off and pawed the bathroom door open. I meet Zuma and Jackson at the top of the stairs. Needless to say, Grandpa Jackson is not too thrilled at the moment."
It was inevitable and impossible to prevent, not that Jethro tried very hard. Just the thought of the pup invading his dad's shower was enough. He could totally picture it so he gave in and started laughing. It took a few seconds for Tony to join him but upstairs Jackson smiled at the sound of his two sons laughing and the disgruntled whimpers of Zuma.
"So nice shower, dad?"
Jackson glared at him and reached for the coffee. "Don't start, Leroy."
"So what were you wearing when Tony met you at the top of the stairs?" Jethro asked slyly and then smirked as Tony spit coffee and his cheeks reddened.
"Well, I was in the middle of my shower. What do you think I was wearing?" Jackson delivered a nicely unexpected Gibbs slap as he came to sit at the kitchen table. "I had a towel, idiot. Where is the mutt?"
Tony pointed to the corner where Zuma was pouting. "He really didn't like being toweled dry."
"Then he should stay out of my shower." Jackson said bluntly. "So what's for breakfast? Want me to stir up some flapjacks?"
"Why don't I treat you both to breakfast out?" Tony offered.
"Why don't I go out and pick something up? I was thinking about making a quick run for some wood. That pup needs a place to run outside. Don't want dad to have to chase him down the street while we're gone."
Jackson looked at both men. "You're going?"
"Tony and I agreed this morning. You sure you're okay watching the pup?"
"Zuma and I'll get along just fine. Don't worry about a thing."
"Why don't you ride along with Jethro?" Tony asked Jackson. "I need to do some laundry and start packing for the trip."
"You going to pack for me?"
Tony smirked at his husband. "You trust me to pick your outfits."
"You'll be with me when I'm wearing them." Jethro countered.
"I should check the weather over there."
"Sounds like a plan." Jackson took the last drink of his coffee. "C'mon, son. Let's go get that wood and some breakfast."
Tony sat at the table finishing his coffee as the two men started out of the house. He could hear them bickering until the front door closed and he realized he was alone. Alone. For the first time in nearly a week he was totally alone. Since Tuesday morning, Jethro had been with him or in hearing distance. Now here he was in Jethro's house by himself. A cold nose poked his ankle and he scooped Zuma up. "Hey, Zuma, why don't we go look up the Palermo weather and then go through Jethro's closet?"
Section 53
Tony stared out the window of his seat. His first class seat. His first class seat on his way to Palermo. He couldn't believe he really was on his way. Things had fallen in line and just like Jethro said, it was Wednesday and they had just boarded the plane.
Sunday afternoon had been fun in a weird way. The two men had returned with breakfast, actually more of a brunch, and the wood, chain and other accessories including a pole that was inserted into the lawn with a 360° swivel chain that allowed Zuma to run around most of the yard. Unfortunately for Jackson and Jethro, Zuma and Tony were more of a complication than an asset.
Tony has insisted on carrying the wood rather than Jethro with his stitches. He insisted he was strong enough to carry the pieces alone. The second trip necessitated a twenty-minute delay while Jethro doctored a protesting Tony's finger. Since the boards were not rough, neither Jethro and Jackson could explain the nasty splinter. Finally, after getting to sit still long enough while Jackson distracted him, Tony was ready to go back to work, this time with a pair of gloves.
Jackson and Jethro had set up sawhorses to lay the wood on for cutting. While they were spreading the plans out on the picnic table, Jethro was unable to stop Tony in time. He placed a two by four on the sawhorse and managed to cut it and the saw cord. Luckily Tony was distracted by Zuma who was yipping over the noise of the saw while Jethro retrieved a role of electrical tape and fixed the cord.
With a glance between father and son, Jackson took on the task of distracting Tony with the plans and where he thought the house and run should be placed while Jethro started clearing the area. Finally, they were ready to start. Jethro had gotten some metal rods for the fencing deciding that they would do temporarily, the new house would have a nice wooden run. Jethro marked spots on the ground where the posts would be with spray paint and showed Tony how to hold the fence and use the short sledge hammer to start driving them into the ground. He left him to the poles while he and Jackson started the dog house. Not fifteen minutes later, Jackson nudged his arm and pointed for Jethro to look behind himself. Not satisfied with the short sledge hammer, Tony had grabbed the big one from the garage and was using it to drive the now three-foot-high pole further in the ground.
Jackson enjoyed a nice cold beer on the porch while Jethro tried patiently to explain that while Zuma wasn't that tall, the pup would want room to jump and play. He also explained that the structure was to be temporary and that the eight foot poles didn't need to be driven that far into the ground. Tony joined Jackson for a beer and to give Zuma a good belly rub while Jethro tried to pull the pole up. He ended up having to get a crowbar and shovel to dig it out and then adjusted the new run around the hole. He also took the opportunity to hide the long sledge hammer.
After the break, Jackson decided to hold the poles while Tony drove them in. Satisfied that Tony was properly supervised, Jethro went back to work on Zuma's house. Only thirty minutes later, Jethro finished taking care of Tony's foot, now wrapped in a bandage. Somehow, Tony had dropped the sledge hammer onto his foot. Satisfied that it was not broken just bruised, Tony was given a bandage, an ice bag and a beer. Jethro decided to finish the poles himself while his dad worked on the dog house.
The Gibbs' gut was reliable. Jethro looked to the porch and saw only an ice bag and half-empty beer bottle. Jackson was showing Tony how to hold a nail and then drive it in straight. Jethro never had time to say a word. If nothing else, Tony was enthusiastic. He had taken a powerful swing and hit his hand. Jethro was half way across the yard before Zuma's yelp joined Tony's. Jackson had wisely confiscated the hammer and was escorting Tony into the house again.
Luckily for Tony he hadn't managed to hit the thumb nail full force, Jethro wasn't sure how Tony would have handled having Jethro using a needle to drill into the nail to relieve the pressure if it had been bleeding under the fingernail. Using his well-stocked medicine kit, Jethro placed a splint on Tony's thumb not that he thought it was broken but more to hopefully slow Tony down. A second ice bag and Tony was placed back on the porch with his beer.
Not twenty minutes later, there he was. He picked up a spare hammer which Jethro deftly confiscated. Although it had only been a few hours since brunch, Jethro was hungry. With a quick glance from his son, Jackson admitted to wishing for a few cookies or a nice slice of cake. That's how Zuma's new area got finished safely with Tony in the kitchen making a cake, chocolate of course. Even, Tony had to admit the run and house were nice when done. Zuma wasn't really impressed, preferring the swivel post.
As Tony leaned his head against the plane's headrest, he gave a smile. Monday morning both he and Jethro had been shocked when the architect had made time for them that afternoon. Evidently their benefactor had been very generous in ensuring that their project was priority. After discussing the basic changes the men had requested, the new four bay garage allowing for a media/game room in place of the first floor office and making a workshop out of the existing tandem garage. The upstairs bonus room would be made into a nice library area, while two of the bedrooms which shared a powder room would be used as offices (not requiring adjustments to the plans).
The extension of the front porch would now be a porch that wrapped around the side and connected to the covered patio under the upstairs covered veranda. The covered patio opened into a large open patio with a massive built in grilling station with a retractable roof. The architect had added a small cabana style outdoor kitchen near the area where Tony could make side dishes while Jethro was grilling. Each area had a nice bar on the side where guests could keep them company. Tony loved the architect's ideas for the patio area. Several cozy clusters of chairs for sitting and talking. He had placed a huge outdoor fireplace of natural stone and several fire pits that could be used to warm the night.
It was at his suggestion that the pool would be terraced slowly below the outdoor kitchen and grilling station. It gave them a wonderful view out of the pool and the sitting areas that the architect had placed around the pool. Two cabanas included powder rooms and changing areas. On the other side of the yard where the porch wrap around had been added, the landscape gave way to a wide open area where Tony and the others could play games. Jethro even requested a basketball area for Tony.
Having agreed on the changes and additions, the Gibbs men signed off on the plans and then joined the architect for a trip to the property. It was set well off the highway but was still an easy trip to work. The architect had already graded a driveway to the center of the property. He pointed out flags where the company had already marked the area for the house. Standing there next to Jethro, Tony could hardly breath. It was perfect and by the squeeze of Jethro's hand he felt so, too. He was even weaker in the knees when the architect predicted the project could be complete in six months.
Jethro was skeptical but the architect assured him that the company had been offered a very generous bonus from their benefactor to ensure such quick completion. A designer would also be provided who had a very generous budget and would help them pick out furnishings and then ensure that the house was ready for them to move in. As they left the area, Tony sat in the back of the architect's SUV. He didn't think he'd ever been happier.
Tuesday was a bit calmer. The men made sure that the house was cleaned and straightened so Jackson wouldn't have to do too much. That afternoon there was laundry. Tony even found time to bake another chocolate cake for Jackson. In the evening, the family had gathered for pizza and conversation. Palmer and McGee teased Tony about Palermo only having authentic Sicilian pizza which lead to a crust fight until Breena brought out a double batch of her brownies for dessert.
Ducky had given Jethro a quick checkup but refused to remove the stitches until Jethro vowed to remove them himself. Disgruntled, Ducky had given in but Jethro swore he had put a mile of Steri-strips™ on in revenge. McGee hadn't made a lot of headway but was expecting information from Ducky's colleague at any time. It had been very late when they broke up with McGee offering to drive them to the airport.
Tony let out a deep breath. Today had been hectic. There had been last-minute packing. Jethro had insisted on no more than one suitcase. Tony had been put out but had nearly knocked his husband over when Jethro announced that he knew Tony couldn't leave Italy without some shopping and they would pick up extra bags there. Tony had drifted off to sleep dreaming about leather jackets, Murano glass, pottery and wine and long nights with Jethro. There was a smile worthy thought, also. They shared brief quick kisses and hugs, but unexpectedly, Jethro hadn't pushed their intimacy further than the single hand job. But every night, Zuma and he got to sleep in Jethro's arms.
That had been the only dark spot of the last few days. Zuma had watched warily as Tony and Jethro carried their suitcases down the stairs and put them by the front door. Sensing something, he has whimpered and whined unless either Jethro or Tony were holding him. Even Jackson couldn't calm him. The pup refused to settle down and Tony had held him with one hand and ate with the other. When McGee and Jethro had carried out the bags, Zuma had latched on to the cuff of Jethro's pants trying to keep him inside. Scooping him up, Tony had rocked him a bit and whispered to him. Finally, Jethro had to take Zuma and give the pup to his dad and almost pull Tony from the house. He could still hear Zuma's whimpering cry.
"He'll be fine." Jethro held Tony's right hand. "Dad will take good care of Zuma."
"I know. It's just…"
"I'll miss the little fuzzball, too." Jethro admitted. "Just think, in eight and a half hours we'll be in Paris. Too bad we only have a little over an hour layover. We'll have to come back sometime when we can take in the sights."
"It would have been nice if the layover in Rome was a bit longer. Three hours won't even let us leave the airport." Tony complained.
"But we'll be in Palermo faster. In about fifteen hours, we'll be there."
"What if we don't find any answers?" Tony asked forlornly.
"We will." Jethro squeezed his hand. "We will."
Tony wanted to believe him.